News

Mayor Walters Announces Rockin’ FORE the Kids Event to be Held May 25

May 15, 2019

Mayor Don Walters is pleased to announce that a Rockin’ FORE the Kids event, presented by LOPen Charity Events and the Scott and Julie Mawaka Charitable Foundation, will be held Saturday, May 25, 2019, in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls.

Rockin’ FORE the Kids benefits Akron Children’s Hospital and programs at the Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancers and Blood Disorders. The event is free and open to the public. It will kick off at 5:00 p.m. with food, wine and beer available for purchase with proceeds benefiting Akron Children’s Hospital. Live music begins at 6:15 p.m. with TNB Thomas Nicholas Band, followed by Brother Trouble out of Nashville at 7:00 p.m. Starship, featuring Mickey Thomas, will headline the event at 8:30 p.m. A fireworks show is scheduled immediately following the concert.

“The City of Cuyahoga Falls is proud to host this event benefiting Akron Children’s Hospital, LOPen Charity Events and the Scott and Julie Mawaka Charitable Foundation,” stated Mayor Don Walters. “We look forward to welcoming new visitors to our downtown to enjoy all that we have to offer.”

"We are excited to be involved with this great venue and the City of Cuyahoga Falls to present our Rockin' FORE the Kids appreciation event to benefit Akron Children's Hospital,” stated Phil Lopez of LOPen Charity Events. “We are truly blessed to have this great hospital in our backyard. We couldn't have picked a better venue and partner. Come down and enjoy the music, street vendors and fireworks on May 25th."

In 2018, the Mawaka and LOPen foundations established a $1 million commitment to an endowed chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology to recognize the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Hord, director of the Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Akron Children’s Hospital. The Showers Family Center serves approximately 100 new children with cancer each year, as well as more than 600 patients with hemophilia, sickle cell and other bleeding disorders through approximately 12,000 patient visits annually, according to Akron Children’s Hospital.

“We are so grateful for the overwhelming support of this event,” stated Scott Mawaka of the Scott and Julie Mawaka Charitable Foundation. “The generosity of the community enables us to fulfill our commitment to Akron Children’s Hospital, through the LOPen Charities & Mawaka Family Endowed Chair honoring Dr. Jeffrey Hord.”

Front Street between Broad Boulevard and Portage Trail will be closed Saturday, May 25 at 4 p.m. through Sunday, May 26 at 1 a.m. for the Rockin’ FORE the Kids concert. Free parking is available in three city-owned parking decks accessible from Second Street.

A second Rockin’ FORE the Kids event will be held Saturday, June 2 at MGM Northfield Park featuring Sammy Hagar and the Circle. Tickets for the event are available at www.lopenrocks.com, mawakafoundation.com and Ticketmaster. All proceeds from the event got to the Akron Children's Hospital.